Electrical connector



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. C. COLE ETAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR May 7, 1963 Filed March 22, 1960 INVENTORS JUDSON Gt COLE JAMES ATTOR Y5 R, HALL y 7, 1963 J. c. COLE ETAL 3,089,114

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed March 22. 1960 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I 0 EEEEEEEEEE INVENTORS JUDSON 0. COLE ATTOR YS BY JAMES R. ALL

United States Patent planed May 7,1963

3,089,114 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Judson C. Cole and James R. Hall, Sidney, N.Y., assignors to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 16,751 11 Claims. (Cl. 339-176) This invention relates to a separable electrical connector, and in the embodiment thereof illustrated herein, particularly relates to a separable connector for cables in flattened, tape form.

The invention has among its object-s the provision or a novel separable connector for multiple conductor cables.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved separable electrical connector which may be used to advantage with multiple conductor cables of the flat or tape type.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a separable connector which is particularly useful for tape cables, such connectors being characterized by the complete insulation and covering of the contacts outside, as well as within the housings of the connector parts, the provision of an effective insulating barrier between each pair of adjacent conductors, and the effectiveness of the seal provided between the insulating sheaths of the two connector parts when such parts are positioned in mating, operative relationship.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a separable electrical connector of the type indicated, wherein the mating contacts makesecure electrical contact with each other despite long use under rigorous conditions and despite repeated engagement of the connector parts with each other and repeated disengagement of such parts. A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of an electrical connector of the type indicated which is rugged and compact and which does not add appreciably to the weight of an assembly in which it is used.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary View in plan of a l4conductor fiat cable, such as that shown connected by the illustrative embodiment of separable electrical connector;

FIG. 2 is a view in horizontal section through a first one of the parts of the connector, certain elements of said connector part being shown in plan, the view showing a fragment of a cable in tape form connected to such first connector part;

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal vertical section through such first part of the connector, and the cable connected thereto, the section being taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section through the second part of the separable electrical connector, certain of the parts being shown in plan, the view showing a fragment of a cable in tape form connected to such second connector part;

the connector parts being shown in mating operative relationship;

FIG. 7 is a view in front end elevation, that is, in the direction from left to right in FIG. 6, of the first connector part;

FIG. 8 is a view in front end elevation, that is, in the direction from right to left in FIG. 6, of the second connector part; and

FIG. 9 is a view in plan of the connector with the main parts thereof matingly engaged as in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the separable connector of the invention is shown employed with a multiple conductor cable of the flattened or tape type. Whereas the connector of the invention displays perhaps its maximum advantages when used with such type of cable, it is to be understood that the connector of the invention may also be used advantageously with cables of other types.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of a flattened or ribbon type cable with which the connector of the invention is illustrated. Such cable, generally designated 10, has a plurality of thin, ribbon-like conductor strips 11 which are sealed in spaced parallel relationship between upper and lower insulating layers which form an insulating body 12. Such cable may be, for example, one manufactured by the Tape Cable Company, Rochester, New York; a typical one of such cables employs conductors 11 made of thin copper strips and a body 12 made of clear, transparent thermoplastic material such as a polyester resin.

In FIGS. 2, 3, and 7 there is shown a first main connector part; in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8 there is shown a second main connector part; and in FIGS. 6 and 9 such two main connector parts are shown in mating, operative engagemen-t. Turning first to FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, there is there shown a first main connector part generally designated 15. Connector part 15 has a transversely extending elect-rically insulating insert member 17 which 'forms a support for the plurality of contact members disposed within such connector part and also serves as a junction block for the connection of the various conductors of the cable 10 which is secured to such connector part. The contact members, designated 19, 19' are in the form of flat leaf springs which extend forwardly from the forward surface of insert block 17, emerging from the block at a location generally centrally vertically thereof. Alternate contact members, designated 19, are inclined forwardly and downwardly somewhat, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the forward ends thereof lie below the horizontal central plane of block 17. The other contact members, designated 19', are inclined forwardly and upwardly somewhat so that their forward ends lie above the central horizontal plane of block 17. The forward ends of contact members 19 and 19' are curved sharply downwardly and upwardly, respectively, as shown at 24 and 24', so as to allow the similar leaf spring members of the second connector part 16 to be readily engaged therewith by movement of the aligned connector parts :15 and 16 toward each other.

Electrically insulating block 17 may be made, for example, of a molded resin piece in which the roots of the contact members 19, 19' are imbedded. In the embodiment shown, such roots are bent so that the forward and rear portions thereof imbedded in the block lie genorally in the horizontal central plane of the block but FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal vertical section through the second connector part and the cable connected thereto, the section being taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal vertical section through the two connector parts and the cables connected thereto,

that the intermediate portions of the contact members within the block lie exposed at either the upper or lower surface of the block. As shown, the intermediate imbedded portions of contact members 19 are exposed at a zone 20 on the lower surface of the block, and the intermediate imbedded portions of contact elements 19' lie exposed at the upper surface of block 17 at the zones 20.

In connecting the :cable to the contacts of the connector part 15, the insulating body of the cable is slit centrally between successive conductors for an appreciable distance rearwardly from the end of the cable. The length of the slits is suflicient to allow the individual conductors to be bent freely from the mid-plane of the connector part along the rear edge thereof and then along one or the other broad surfaces of such connector part. Insulation is removed from the ends of the conductors 11 for a suflicie-nt length to permit the bared conductors to overlie a zone 20 or 20, as the case may be, as indicated at 21 in FIG. .6. The conductors are joined to the contact elements by being soldered thereto at zones 20 and 20. The described construction is strong, simple, easily made, and has the further advantage of separating successive connections by the thickness of block 17 thereby preventing any accidental short circuiting between successive connections on the same side of such block. The soldered connections between alternate conductors and contact elements 19 are designated 22; those between the other conductors and contact elements 19 .are designated 22'.

A rubber-like, electrically insulating sheath member 25 is provided to ovenlie the block 17, the connections 22 and 22, and the forwardly extending portions of contact elements 19 and 19. Sheath 25 presents a cavity therein having a rear wall 26, a forward wall 29, and upper and lower walls which snugly receive and position the block 17. The sheath has a rearwardly extending portion which is horizontally slotted as indicated at 27 (FIG. 6) so as snugly and sealing to receive the cable 10 thereth-rough. The forward wall 29 is vertically centrally apertured so as to permit the contact members 19, 19 to extend forwardly therethrough. Sheath 25 has a forward hood portion 30 which shrouds and protects contact members 19, 19'. Successive contact members are separated and isolated by elongated parallel vertical partition members 31 integral with sheath 25 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

Connector part is completed by a rigid shell member 32 made, for example, of metal within which the insulating block 17 and its protective sheath 25 are snugly received. Shell 32 has its upper and lower rear edges shaped to converge somewhat in a rearward direction so as to form a converging seat for the similarly shaped rear portion of the sheath. A force exerted rearwardly upon sheath 25, therefore, tends to thrust the rear end thereof more firmly into the seat in the shell and thus to seal the sheath to the cable '10. Intermediate its length the shell 32 is provided with an outwardly directly peripheral flange 35 by means of which [connector part 15 may be secured in operative mating relationship to connector part 16.

The second connector part 16 includes an electrically insulating insert block 36 which may be substantially identical with the above-described block 17. Contact elements 41, 41 project from the forward edge of block 36, alternate contact elements, designated 41, being bent somewhate upwardly in a forward direction, as shown in FIG. 5. The other contact elements, designated 41', are bent somewhat downwardly in a forward direction. The forward ends of such contact elements are sharply bent at 42 and 42, respectively, in the same direction as their inclination. The cable 10" is slit, and the ends of the conductors thereof are bared in the same manner as above described in connection with cable 10. Thus runs 39 of the slit portions of cable 10' extend along the rear edge of block 36 and then either upwardly or downwardly to overlie the broad surfaces of block 36. The ends of the conductors of cable 10' are bared so as to overlie and be soldered to the contact elements of block 36 at 40 and 40'.

Connector part 16 is provided with a rubber-like sheath 43 which is provided with a central cavity having a rear wall 44, a forward wall 45, and upper and lower walls as shown. Such cavity snugly receives the insert block 36, the contact elements 41, 41, and the joints 40, 4G. The forward wall 45 of sheath 43 is centrally apertured to allow the contact elements 41, 41 to pass therethrough. The rear end portion 46 of sheath 43 has reanWard-ly converging upper and lower surfaces which snugly fit within a seat formed within the rear of the outer rigid shell 54 which may be made of metal.

Sheath 43 has a forward hood portion 47 of somewhat larger dimension than the remainder of the sheath, such hood portion being joined to the main portion of the sheath by a converging portion which snugly engages a portion of similar shape of the shell 54. Adjacent its forward end, hood 47 has a peripherally extended rounded inner converging seat 49. Rearwardly of the seat, the inner surface of the hood has parallel walls, the latter surface joining with a rearwardly converging inner surface 48'.

The above-described hood portion 30 of the sheath 25 of the first connector part has a peripherally-extending rounded rib 50 thereon of such shape and so located longitudinally of the hood that it snugly fits within the seat 49 when the two connector parts are in mating, operative engagement as shown in FIG. 6. Forwardly of rib 50 the hood has a converging outer surface which sealingly engages the confronting surface 48 of hood 47. The forward end of hood 30 is of converging shape complementary to surface 48; such two surfaces of the respective hoods likewise form a substantial seal when the parts are positioned as shown in FIG. 6. When the parts have been positioned as shown in FIG. 6, the forward end of the hood on connector part 15 deforms the hood 47 on connector part 16 so as to cause the latter part to flow somewhat and sealingly to interfit with the hood on connector part 15. Thus the bead 50 will defonrn hood 47 so as resiliently to form a seat 49 in hood 47.

The forward end of shell 54 is radially outwardly flanged at 55, such flange being similar in shape to flange 35. Such flanges may be secured together to hold the connector parts in operative engagement by means such as bolts 62, extending through opening in the confronting flanges, and nuts 64 on such bolts, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9.

In order to insure that the connector parts 15 and 16 will not be incorrectly assembled, they are provided with matching grooves and projections which serve uniquely to orient the parts and also insure that there will be no contact engagement between the two parts of the connector unless the two connector parts have been correctly oriented. In the embodiment shown, the forward end of shell 54 of connector part 16 is provided with two laterally spaced projections 56 at the upper edge thereof and one centrally located projection 57, such projections extending inwardly somewhat toward the horizontal central plane of part 16. The forward edge of shell 32 of connector part 15- is provided with slots 59 in the upper edge thereof and a slot 60 in the lower edge thereof, such slots receiving projections 56 and 57, respectively.

The connector parts 15 and 16 are assembled by positioning them in alignment and then advancing them together toward the terminal position thereof shown in FIG. 6. The initial inclination of the contact elements 19, 19' and 41, 41', together with the curvature of the ends of such contact elements, insure that the forward ends of mating contact pairs will readily slide past each other. Continued approach of the connector parts together causes the mating contact elements increasingly resiliently to ideflect each other, so that they make firm and secure electrical contact. The resilient contact elements may be made of any one of a number of resilient metals of good electrical conductivity; beryllium-copper alloys have been found especially desirable for the making of such contact elements. 1

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be especially understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a multi-contact separable electrical connector comprising a pair of cooperating insulating plates adapted to be positioned with their forward edges confronting each other, the plates each supporting a plurality of laterally spaced resilient electrically conducting fingers insulated from each other and projecting longitudinally from the forward edge of the respective plate, the rear end portions of the fingers being irn'bedded in the respective plates with a part of the rear end of each finger exposed at a side of its respective plate, alternate fingers on each plate being inclined so that their forward end port-ions lie on opposite sides of the central plane of the broad extent of the plate, means to position the two plates with their broad extents in generally the same plane and in juxtaposition with alternate fingers aligned and overlying each other for substantial distances, means to urge the thus positioned plates toward each other and to secure them in assembled position whereby to make secure electrical contact between the respective fingers on the opposed plates, a multiple conductor cable in flattened tape form associated with each of the connector parts, joint means connecting the conductors of the cables to the respective fingers of the plates, said last named means comprising ends of the respective conductors overlying the said exposed parts of the rear end port-ions of the finger-s, and fused joints between the conductors and the said exposed parts of the fingers, and electrically insulating sheaths covering the plate'and joint means of each connector part, the confronting end portions of the two sheaths sealingly interfitting when the connector parts are in mating, operative engagement.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rear portions of the fingers are bent to emerge from the broad surfaces of the plate, the rear portions of successive fingers emerging at the opposite broad surfaces of the plate.

3. In combination, a multi-contact separable electrical connector comprising a pair of cooperating insulating plates adapted to be positioned with their forward edges confronting each other, the plates each having a plurality of laterally spaced resilient electrically conducting fingers insulated from each other and projecting longitudinally from the forward edge thereof, alternate fingers on each plate being inclined so that their forward end portions lie on opposite sides of the central plane of the broad extent of the plate, a multiple conductor cable in flattened tape form associated with each of the connector par-ts, joint means connecting the conductors of the cables to the respective fiingers of the plates, electrically insulating sheaths covering the plate and joint means of each connector part, the confronting end portions of the two sheaths sealingly interfitting when the connector parts are in mating, operative engagement, rigid shell members receiving and overlying the sheaths of the respective connector parts, the confronting ends of such shells matingly interfitting to position the two plates with their broad extents in generally the same plane and in juxtaposition with alternate fingers aligned and overlying each other for substantial distances, and means to urge the thus positioned plates, sheaths, and shells toward each other, whereby to make secure electrical contact between the respective fingers on the opposed plates and to seal the two confronting sheaths together.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, comprising a rearwardly converging seat on the rear end of each shell member, and a complementarily shaped rear end portion on each sheath fitting within the respective seat, the cables passing through and being gripped by the rear end portions of the respective sheaths.

5. In a combination including a multi-contact separable electrical connector having two main connector parts, the connector parts each having a plurality of laterally spaced contacts adapted to interfit when the connector parts are in mating, operative engagement, the improved combination which comprises one of said connector parts, said one connector part comprising a laterally extended insulating plate having upper and lower broad sides, the contacts of said one connector part being in the form of laterally spaced resilient electrically conducting broad blade-like fingers disposed with their broad surfaces at least generally parallel to the broad sides of the plate and projecting longitudinally from the forward edge of the plate, the rear end portion of each of the fingers being secured to the plate by being imbedded therein, the rear end portion of each of the fingers within the plate having a part bent out of the general plane of its broad surfaces and containing a generally L-shaped offset having a first leg extending toward a broad side of the plate, and a second leg extending generally parallel to, close to, and exposed at said broad side of the plate, a multiple conductor cable having an end in flattened form connected to said one connector part, join-t means connecting the conductors of the cable to the respective fingers, said last named means comprising ends of the respective conductors overlying the said exposed parts of the rear end portions of the fingers, and joints between the conductors and the said exposed parts of the fingers, and an electrically insulating sheath covering the plate and joints of the said one connector part.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein the sheath has a cavity therein which snugly receives the plate, the sheath having a laterally extended slit in its rear end portion which receives therewithin and snugly embraces the end of the cable joined to said connector part, the cavity having a rear Wall pierced by said slit, the said ends of the conductors intermediate the joints and the slit being bent to lie between and being gripped by the rear end of the plate and the rear wall of the cavity.

7. In a combination including a multi-contact separable electrical connector having two main connector parts, the connector parts each having a plurality of laterally spaced contacts adapted to interfit when the connector parts are in mating, operative engagement, the improved combination which comprises one of said connector parts, said one connector part comprising a laterally extended insulating plate, the contacts of said one connector part being in the form of laterally spaced resilient electrically conducting fingers projecting longitudinally from the forward edge of the plate, the rear end portions of the fingers being secured to the plate by being imbedded therein, at least a part of the rear end of each finger being exposed at a broad side of the plate, the rear portions of successive fingers emerging at the opposite broad surfaces of the plate, a multiple conductor cable in flattened tape form connected to said one connector part, joint rneans connecting the conductors of the cable to the respective fingers, said last named means comprising ends of the respective conductors overlying the said exposed parts of the rear end portions of the fingers, and joints between the conductors and the said exposed parts of the fingers, and an electrically insulating sheath covering the plate and the joint of the said one connector part, the sheath having a cavity therein which snugly receives the plate, the sheath having a laterally extended slit in its rear end portion which pierces the rear wall of the cavity and receives therewithin and snugly embraces the end of the cable joined to said connector part, the slit in the sheath being disposed parallel to and generally midway between the opposite broad surfaces of the plate.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, comprising a rigid shell member receiving and overlying the sheath of the said one connector part, said shell having a rearwardly converging seat at its rear end, and a complementarily shaped rear end portion on the sheath fitting within the seat, the portion of the cable passing through the slit in the sheath being gripped between the confronting inner surfaces of the sheath at the slit when the rear end portion of the sheath is thrust rearwardly into the seat on the rear end of the shell member.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein the said ends of the conductors intermediate the joints and the slit in the sheath are bent to lie between and are gripped by the rear end of the plate and the rear wall of the cavity.

'10. In combination, a multi-contact separable electrical connector comprising a pair of cooperating insulating plates adapted to be positioned with their forward edges confronting each other, the plates each supporting a plurality of laterally spaced resilient electrically conducting fingers insulated from each other and projecting longitudinally from the forward edge of the respective plate, the rear end portions of the fingers being imbedded in the respective plates with a part of the rear end of each finger exposed at a side of its respective plate, alternate fingers on each plate being inclined so that their forward end portions lie on opposite sides of the central plane of the broad extent of the plate, means to position the two plates with their broad extents in generally the same plane and in juxtaposition with alternate fingers aligned and overlying each other for substantial distances, means to urge the thus positioned plates toward each other and to secure them in assembled position whereby to make secure electrical contact between the respective fingers on the opposed plates, multiple conductor cables each having an end in flattened form associated with and connected to each of the connector parts, joint me ans connecting the conductors of the cables at said ends thereof to the respective fingers of the plates, said last named means comprising ends of the respective conductors overlying the said exposed parts of the rear end portions of the fingers, and joints between the conductors and the said exposed parts of the fingers, and electrically insulating sheaths covering the plate and joint means of each connector part, the confronting end portions of the two sheaths sealingly interfitting when the connector parts are in mating, operative engagement.

11. In combination, a multi-contact separable electrical connector comprising a pair of cooperating insulating plates adapted to be positioned with their forward edges confronting each other, the plates each having a plurality of laterally spaced resilient electrically conducting fingers insulated from each other and projecting longitudinally from the forward edge thereof, alternate fingers on each plate being inclined so that their forward end portions lie on opposite sides of the central plane of the broad extent of the plate, multiple conductor cables each having an end in flattened form associated with and connected to each of the connector parts, joint means connecting the conductors of the cables to the respective fingers of the plates, electrically insulating sheaths covering the plate and joint means of each connector part, the confronting end portions of the two sheaths sealingly interfitting when the connector parts are in mating, operative engagement, rigid shell members receiving and overlying the sheaths of the respective connector parts, the confronting ends of such shells matingly interfitting to position the two plates with their broad extents in generally the same plane and in juxtaposition with alternate fingers aligned and overlying each other for substantial distances, and means to urge the thus positioned plates, sheaths, and shells toward each other, whereby to make secure electrical contact between the respective fingers on the opposed plates and to seal the two confronting sheaths together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 453,225 Wheeler June 2, 1891 2,037,630 Hudson Apr. 14, 1936 2,510,944 A-uerbach June 13, 1950 2,769,154 Greenbaum Oct. 30, 1956 2,782,391 Kirk Feb. 19, 1957 2,854,502 Richter Sept. 30, 1958 2,885,509 Diesel May 5, 1959 2,929,043 Phillips Mar. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 807,724 Great Britain Ian. 21, 1959 218,200 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES Electronic Design publication, August 15, 1957, pages 48 and 49. 

5. IN A COMBINATION INCLUDING A MULTI-CONTACT SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING TWO MAIN CONNECTOR PARTS, THE CONNECTOR PARTS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED CONTACTS ADAPTED TO INTERFIT WHEN THE CONNECTOR PARTS ARE IN MATING, OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT, THE IMPROVED COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES ONE OF SAID CONNECTOR PARTS, SAID ONE CONNECTOR PART COMPRISING A LATERALLY EXTENDED INSULATING PLATE HAVING UPPER AND LOWER BROAD SIDES, THE CONTACTS OF SAID ONE CONNECTOR PART BEING IN THE FORM OF LATERALLY SPACED RESILIENT ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING BROAD BLADE-LIKE FINGERS DISPOSED WITH THEIR BROAD SURFACES AT LEAST GENEARLLY PARALLEL TO THE BROAD SIDES OF THE PLATE AND PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE PLATE, THE REAR END PORTION OF EACH OF THE FINGERS BEING SECURED TO THE PLATE BY BEING IMBEDDED THEREIN, THE REAR END PORTION 